PDX30 sec6 MGBW AWPRESS Layout 1 11/24/14 4:58 AM Page … · PDX30_sec6_MGBW_AWPRESS_Layout 1 11/24/14 4:58 AM Page 79 80 PortraitMagazine.com Our reputation for building homes to

PortraitMagazine.com72

THIS WAS THE NOT THE FIRST HOUSE THAT ALI AFGHANHAD BUILT, but it was the first to receive the brunt of his mechan-

ical engineering background. Yet for all its practical features, the first

thing that anyone notices is the home’s effortless luxury.

Afghan had been searching for a home in the Portland area for him-

self and his “significant other,” when he found a tired 1940s-era house

on a south-facing lot near downtown Lake Oswego. “The house was

small and dark,” Afghan recalled, “but the lot was perfect.”

When the couple realized that they would build, they knew it would

be a Mediterranean-style home. “I had always liked that style of

house,” Afghan explained, “and I had a very good idea of the floor

plan.” When the basic layout had been drawn, the architect had to

depart, and Afghan took over the project. He enlisted builder

Howard Goodman of Wing Ridge Construction in Pacific City. Good-

man had rebuilt Afghan’s beach home after it had burned several

years before. “Howard is one of the most honest people I have come

across,” said Afghan, “and, at the time, I didn’t know the scope 100

percent. I needed some flexibility, and we agreed on a contract with

a fixed fee. It was an arrangement that worked for both of us.”

“I was honored that they would drag me over to the Valley,” said

Goodman who pulled down the old house and built the new one.

Building in Lake Oswego was a bit different than at the coast. “We

didn’t have the same seismic concerns,” he said, “but we did include

the same amount of waterproofing and we did pay just as close at-

tention to detail.”

ALL IN THE

DETAILSWRITTEN BY Stephanie Boyle MaysPHOTOGRAPHED BY Jeff Freeman

PDX30_sec6_MGBW_AWPRESS_Layout 1 11/24/14 4:58 AM Page 72

PortraitMagazine.com 73



“While this was not the first house I ever built, I wanted everything to be coordinated and be awesome. I talked to a lot of designers. I picked the

person with the most potential energy,” said Afghan of his choosing Wendy O’Brien of Wendy O’Brien Interior Planning & Design in Portland.

“Wendy got into my head with her ideas and showed me what I could do.”

Working with the existing floor plan that had the public rooms on the first floor and the master suite and two bedrooms and a bath on the second

level, O’Brien designed the exterior and interior architectural details of the 2,628-square foot home. “I felt strongly that we should embrace the

location of the home near downtown Lake Oswego,” said O’Brien. “Once we had the style established, which is a ‘Mediterranean Northwest,’

that set the tone for the interior. We wanted the materials, colors and textures in the home to not only embody the architecture but also reflect

the colors and movement of the rich soil and Mediterranean Sea.”


Espresso-stained cabinets and shelves (above)

designed by Wendy O’Brien hold books, me-

mentos and family photographs near an inviting

wing chair and ottoman in the den, which

O’Brien also designed. Stairs connecting (top

right) the first and second floors have Ap-

palachian oak treads and tiled risers. The balus-

ters and railing were treated to the same

espresso stain used in the den. A Moorish styled

mirror (right) brings the Mediterranean ambiance

to the first floor powder room.


TILE Field tile from Oregon Tile & Marble, fea-

ture tile from Modern Surfaces and a liner tile

from Portland Direct Tile and Marble combine to

create the backsplash in the kitchen. Plumbing

fixtures are from Moen through Ferguson.

GRANITE The granite on the center island was

chosen for its colors and undulating pattern in a

nod to the Mediterranean Sea while earth-toned

granite was used around the room’s perimeter

to acknowledge Tuscany. Both are from Wall to

Wall Tile & Stone.


VENT Viking hood and appliances from Stan-

dard TV & Appliance were concealed behind

panels to foster a furniture look and complement

the living area on the other side of the Great

Room. Pendant fixtures from Globe Lighting en-

hance the natural sunlight.

CABINETRY At the back of house and open

to the Great Room, designer O’Brien used the

same style of cabinetry in the kitchen as was

used in the den but gave it a painted finish with

a dry brush technique to add depth.



The home was designed from the inside out starting with a

rustic flavor of rich warm tones and classic architectural de-

tails. Dark-stained distressed Appalachian oak floors reminis-

cent of wine barrels and natural stone tiles from Macadam

Floor and Design were used with earth tones on the walls and

espresso-stained custom built ins designed by O’Brien. Au-

thentically proportioned French doors by Simpson from

Northwest Door & Supply and Jeld Wen windows from Parr

Lumber let in the plentiful light. Not forgetting Afghan’s wish

for a “warm and comfortable home,” she also hand selected

the custom sofa, wing and side chairs, bar stool and ot-

tomans, which were then made locally at Portland Furniture

and covered in cream linen, tan and gold. “I am,” she said,

“very detail oriented. I provide floor, furniture and lighting

plans, elevations and detailed specifications. Whatever is

needed to complete the perfect dream home.”

The attention to detail continued upstairs in the two bed-

rooms and bath used by Afghan’s daughters and in the master

bedroom and bath. “A lot of people thought I was crazy,” said

Afghan, “when I said I wanted the bathtub in the bedroom.

You can take a bath and talk with your significant other or

French doors open to a deck and balcony and ensure plenty of light reaches the

master bedroom. The bathtub is positioned to take advantage of views outside

or of the fireplace. A bed from Restoration Hardware dressed in Pottery Barn

linens sits beneath a coffered ceiling that gives the room added dimension and

drama. In the bathroom proper, cabinet design and granite counters are repeated

from downstairs and Kohler sinks are mated with Delta faucets. To provide plush-

ness under foot, the homeowner requested the floor be carpeted.


watch TV or enjoy the fire. You are not segregated in the bath-

room. Certainly this would not work for small children, but for

adults, it is for pleasure and leisure.” O’Brien found a Victoria +

Albert tub on espresso wood supports which made it more

closely resemble a moveable piece of furniture rather than a per-

manent fixture. Afghan’s ideas for a different kind of master suite

did not end with the tub. The back half of the expansive shower–

located more traditionally in the bathroom--acts as a drying off

area for anyone exiting the shower and as a hallway leading be-

tween the bathroom and the hot tub on the adjoining deck.

Throughout the plan, O’Brien worked with Afghan to provide a

home designed for how the couple planned to live. In fact, this

is one of the hallmarks of O’Brien and how she approaches the

interior experience; by meticulously profiling her client’s com-

plete lifestyle and designing the perfect living environment no

matter what the style, be it traditional, transitional, contemporary

or modern.

“I am a mechanical engineer,” explained Afghan, “and I wanted

the design to be intuitive. It is for people of any age but also for

in your Golden years. The steps in the stairs are shallow so they

are not difficult to climb. There is an elevator with doorways wide

enough for a wheel chair. There is only one step from the entry

into the house that was added to provide character but it could

easily be fitted with a ramp. “This was also my first house where

I thought about home automation,” he continued. “The outdoor

and indoor lighting, thermostat, security and surveillance system

and sound system can all be controlled remotely by my iPhone

or iPad.”

Other innovations introduced by the engineer were tie downs for

safety ropes on the house and the garage to ensure the well being

of anyone working on the roof, wiring the garden wall for light-

ing, standardizing the vent sizes so all filters will be the same

size, and positioning a camera so you can always check to make

sure you shut the garage door.

“Working with Wendy was a constant conversation; for every-

thing I wanted to do she gave me two or three ideas. No question

this is a luxury home,” said Afghan, “but it makes you feel com-

fortable. It is a home where people are meant to live. I look for-

ward to coming home every day.”

T H E E S S E N T I A L S O F L I V I N G W E L L

LUXURIOUS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR HOME DESIGN

503.545.777 www.wendyobrien.com6

Traditional Transitional Contemporary Modern.. .

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTORWing Ridge Constructionwww.wingridge.com

INTERIOR DESIGN Wendy O'Brien Interior Planning & Designwww.wendyobrienid.com

JELD-WEN WINDOWS: Parr Lumber www.parr.com

CUSTOM FURNITURE Portland Furniturewww.portlandfurnitureonline.com

HARDWARE Chown Hardware;KITCHEN APPLIANCES: Viking; Faucets:Victoria & Albert, Moen, Delta; Sinks:Kohler



“Our reputation for building homes to withstand Oregon coast storms is how many clients initially found us. Now our teams work

all over Oregon. Dedicated to excellent construction and customer service for over 16 years.”

ORCCB #162416

– Howard GoodmanOwner, Wing Ridge Construction

503-347-3490 l wingridge.com

WING RIDGEConstruction, LLC

Quality. Value.

Looking for a CommercialBuilding for your Business?• Exclusively commercial properties• 30 years commercial leasing

and sales experience

Tony Reser, Senior Vice [email protected]


Room Service Home Technologies is the Northwest’s trusted team for home technologydesign and installation. From home theater to shading and lighting control, wholehome music, home automation and security systems, Room Service has the rightsolution to streamline your home and enhance your lifestyle.

Call today for a personalized consultation.

503.598.7380 | www.GoRoomService.com | 10120 SW Nimbus, Suite C1 | Portland

ORCCB#90213 WA#ROOMSAV033BU

SEE A FULL RANGE OF OUR WORK AND CAPABILITIES AT

GOROOMSERVICE.COM

Installing elegant technology solutionsin the finest homes.

control your entirehome from yourphone or tablet


Documents

PDX30 sec6 MGBW AWPRESS Layout 1 11/24/14 4:58 AM Page … · PDX30_sec6_MGBW_AWPRESS_Layout 1 11/24/14 4:58 AM Page 79 80 PortraitMagazine.com Our reputation for building homes to